How does a worm know what’s good for dinner? In this episode, we uncover how C. elegans can distinguish between helpful and harmful microbes — and it’s all down to polyamines. These microbe-produced metabolites act like scent beacons, guiding worms to nutritious bacteria like E. coli while steering them away from pathogens.
We explore:
How chemosensory neurons detect polyamines like cadaverine and putrescine
Why ADF and AWC neurons are tuned to sniff out E. coli-enriched scents
How the AIB interneuron acts as a decision hub for foraging
Why worms lose interest in mutant E. coli strains lacking polyamines
What this tells us about host-microbe interactions and innate sensory coding
📖 Based on the research article:
“Chemosensory detection of polyamine metabolites guides C. elegans to nutritive microbes”
Benjamin Brissette, Lia Ficaro, Chenguang Li, et al.
Published in Science Advances (2024)
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adj4387
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